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Aleister Crowley and Western Esotericism — Thelema

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Aleister Crowley and Western Esotericism

Name: Aleister Crowley and Western Esotericism
Price: 64.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Bogdan, Henrik; , Starr, Martin P; , Hanegraaff, Wouter J
ISBN: 9780199863099

✍️ Bogdan, Henrik;, Starr and 3 more

Reader Score

4.6

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This groundbreaking collection offers the first comprehensive scholarly investigation into Aleister Crowley, a figure frequently misunderstood and sensationalized. Moving beyond popular narratives, it meticulously examines how this Cambridge-educated yet vilified individual forged a unique spiritual path. Crowley's 'Magick' blended Western ceremonial traditions with Eastern meditative practices, culminating in the Thelema religion, which championed radical individualism and the sacralization of self, notably within the Ordo Templi Orientis. Discover how his profound, often controversial, ideas laid the groundwork for much of the counter-culture and alternative spirituality that followed.

Bogdan, Henrik; , Starr, Martin P; , Hanegraaff, Wouter J

🦅

Thelema

Praise for this book

“One would be hard-pressed to put together an assemblage of people to equal the scholars included in this collection-the cream of the crop of those esoteric scholars who have studied Crowley. The volume makes a significant contribution to esoteric studies and will set future debates about Crowley. It will be a must-read text for all esoteric scholars in the next generation.”

— J. Gordon Melton, Distinguished Professor of American Religious History, Baylor University

🏛 Oxford University Press 📅 2012 📖 432 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9780199863099

Fun Fact

This is a pivotal academic work, offering perhaps the most balanced and insightful analysis of Aleister Crowley's enduring impact on Western esotericism. It excels at deconstructing the sensationalism surrounding him, presenting his complex philosophy with scholarly precision. While not a beginner's introduction or a gossipy biography, it's indispensable for serious students seeking to understand the intellectual underpinnings of Thelema and modern occultism. Those looking for scandal over substance may be disappointed, but anyone invested in profound esoteric thought will find it an essential addition to their library.

📝 Description: Aleister Crowley and Western Esotericism

This volume is the first comprehensive examination of one of the twentieth century's most distinctive iconoclasts. Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) was a study in contradictions. Born into a fundamentalist Christian family and educated at Cambridge, he was vilified as a traitor, drug addict, and debaucher, yet revered as perhaps the most influential thinker in contemporary esotericism. Moving beyond the influence of contemporary psychology and the modernist understanding of the occult, Crowley declared himself the revelator of a new age of individualism. Crowley's occult bricolage, Magick, was an eclectic combination of spiritual exercises drawn from Western European magical ceremonies and Indic sources for meditation and yoga. This journey of self-liberation culminated in harnessing sexual power as a magical discipline, a "sacrilization of the self" as practiced in Crowley's mixed masonic group, the Ordo Templi Orientis. The religion Crowley created, Thelema, legitimated his role as a charismatic revelator and herald of a new age of freedom. Aleister Crowley's lasting influence can be seen in the counter-culture movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s and in many forms of alternative spirituality and popular culture. The essays in this volume offer crucial insight into Crowley's foundational role in the study of Western esotericism, new religious movements, and sexuality.

📑 What's inside

Contributors
List of Figures
List of Tables
Foreword - Wouter J. Hanegraaff
1. Introduction - Henrik Bogdan and Martin P. Starr
2. The Sorcerer and His Apprentice: Aleister Crowley and the Magical Exploration of Edwardian Subjectivity - Alex Owen
3. Varieties of Magical Experience: Aleister Crowley's Views on Occult Practice - Marco Pasi
4. Envisioning the Birth of a New Aeon: Dispensationalism and Millenarianism in the Thelemic Tradition - Henrik Bogdan
5. The Great Beast as a Tantric hero: The Role of Yoga and Tantra in Aleister Crowley's Magick - Gordan Djurdjevic
6. Continuing Knowledge from Generation unto Generation: The Social and Literary Background of Aleister Crowley's Magick - Richard Kaczynski
7. Aleister Crowley and the Yezidis - Tobias Churton
8. The Frenzied Beast: The Phaedran Furores in the Rites and Writings of Aleister Crowley - Matthew D. Rogers
9. Aleister Crowley: Freemason! - Martin P. Starr
10. ''The One Thought that was not Untrue'': Aleister Crowley and A. E. Waite - Robert R. Gilbert
11. The Beast and the Prophet: Aleister Crowley's Fascination with Joseph Smith - Massimo Introvigne
12. Crowley and Wicca - Ronald Hutton
13. Through the Witch's Looking Glass: The Magick of Aleister Crowley and the Witchcraft of Rosaleen Norton - Keith Richmond
14. The Occult Roots of Scientology? L. Ron Hubbard, Aleister Crowley and the Origins of the World's Most Controversial New Religion - Hugh Urban
15. Satan and the Beast. The Influence of Aleister Crowley on Modern Satanism - Asbjørn Dyrendal
Index

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This collection serves as a necessary corrective to decades of misunderstanding, offering the first comprehensive scholarly investigation into Crowley’s spiritual legacy. While it excels in tracing the lineage from ceremonial tradition to modern esotericism, it demands significant intellectual engagement. Readers seeking sensationalist gossip or simple biographical anecdotes will find little here; the tone is strictly academic and analytical. It is not suited for casual readers looking for entertainment, but rather for those prepared to engage with complex theological and historical arguments regarding the sacralization of self.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Scholars and serious practitioners will find this text invaluable for its meticulous dismantling of Crowley’s popular caricatures. By examining his Cambridge education and the synthesis of Eastern meditation with Western ritual, the book provides a nuanced understanding of Thelema’s radical individualism. It is essential for those wishing to grasp how these controversial ideas laid the groundwork for contemporary counter-culture and alternative spirituality, moving beyond mere biography to explore profound philosophical impacts.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're a serious student of Western esotericism, occult history, or the development of modern spirituality, this academic exploration is essential. It offers a nuanced, scholarly perspective on one of the twentieth century's most influential and misunderstood figures.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This collection serves as a necessary corrective to decades of misunderstanding, offering the first comprehensive scholarly investigation into Crowley’s spiritual legacy. While it excels in tracing the lineage from ceremonial tradition to modern esotericism, it demands significant intellectual engagement. Readers seeking sensationalist gossip or simple biographical anecdotes will find little here; the tone is strictly academic and analytical. It is not suited for casual readers looking for entertainment, but rather for those prepared to engage with complex theological and historical arguments regarding the sacralization of self.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While it covers aspects of his life, this book is primarily an academic examination of Crowley's philosophical contributions and his enduring influence on Western esotericism, rather than a chronological life story.

No, the authors maintain a scholarly, analytical tone throughout. It addresses his controversies within the context of his esoteric philosophy and historical impact, avoiding sensationalism to provide a balanced academic perspective.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Crowley's Paradoxical Legacy

Explore the profound contradictions that defined Crowley's life, from his fundamentalist upbringing to his public vilification. This volume delves into how his academic intellect clashed with his rebellious spirit, shaping a figure revered as an influential thinker by some, yet condemned by others. It dissects the complex interplay between his personal struggles and his lasting esoteric impact.

Thelema's Individualist Vision

Understand Thelema, the religion Crowley founded, as a radical declaration of a new age centered on personal will and liberation. The book analyzes how this philosophy challenged conventional morality, promoting a 'sacrilization of the self' and empowering individuals to discover their true path. It positions Thelema as a foundational text for modern occult individualism.

Synthesizing Sacred Practices

Delve into Crowley's eclectic system of 'Magick,' a sophisticated blend of European ceremonial magic and Indic yoga and meditation. This work illuminates his innovative approach to spiritual exercises, including the controversial integration of sexual power as a magical discipline within groups like the Ordo Templi Orientis, showcasing a unique synthesis of global esoteric traditions.

📜 Historical context

Crowley emerged at a pivotal moment in Western esotericism, synthesizing disparate traditions and anticipating the individualism of the modern age. His work directly challenged Victorian strictures, paving the way for the counter-cultural movements of the 1960s and beyond, firmly establishing his place as a pivotal figure in the evolution of occult thought.

📚 Glossary

Thelema
Magick
Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.)

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might Crowley's emphasis on radical individualism and 'sacrilization of the self' resonate, or conflict, with contemporary spiritual movements?
Considering Crowley's synthesis of Eastern and Western practices, what are the ethical and practical considerations when drawing from diverse spiritual traditions?
Reflect on how figures like Crowley, often condemned in their time, come to be re-evaluated as significant thinkers within their respective fields. What does this reveal about societal evolution?